Source: Israel is considering a "limited withdrawal" from southern Lebanon

Israeli media reported that Israel is considering a "limited withdrawal" from southern Lebanon.

Xinhua News Agency quoted the website of Israel's 12th Channel Television on Sunday (June 21st) as reporting that the top political and security officials in Israel held a series of consultations over the past 24 hours, and Israel was also communicating with the United States at "all levels".

The report quoted a senior official with knowledge of the situation as saying that Israel has not yet received any request from the US for the Israeli army to withdraw from southern Lebanon. However, Israel is currently studying the implementation of "small-scale withdrawals" from some areas outside the "yellow line" that are currently under the control of the Israeli army.

The report also mentioned that as the United States continues to exert pressure, the possibility of the Israeli army withdrawing from southern Lebanon is increasing. However, the Israeli side emphasized that remaining within the "yellow line" is the "bottom line" for them.

The 12th Channel Television previously reported that the "Yellow Line" in southern Lebanon refers to a roughly 10-kilometer-long strip of "defensive area" extending along the Israel-Lebanon border towards Lebanon, which is controlled by the Israeli army and is also known as the "security buffer zone" as claimed by the Israeli side.

Israeli media reported on the 20th that the prime minister and the defense minister instructed the Israeli army to cease fire in Lebanon, but the Israeli army did not withdraw from the areas it controlled in southern Lebanon.

Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed that "as long as necessary", the Israeli army will remain in southern Lebanon. According to a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces on the 21st, the chief of staff of the Israeli army, Zamil, met with the commander of the Israeli forces in southern Lebanon on the same day and said that the military operation of the Israeli army in Lebanon is still ongoing.

On the 21st, as the US-Iran delegation was holding negotiations at the Bigen Mountain near Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, US President Trump posted a message on his social media platform, demanding that Iran immediately stop the actions of its Lebanese proxy (referring to Hezbollah). He threatened: "If they don't stop, we will strike Iran again with great force. Just like last week, and it will be even more intense!"

After Trump made another threatening statement, the Iranian negotiation delegation suddenly suspended the talks with the US side. The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, who was the chief Iranian negotiator, warned: "They'd better be careful with their words. Our armed forces are ready to respond to them in another way."

Regarding this incident, the Lebanese "Square" TV station reported that Iran's response was very clear: Unless Trump apologizes for his threatening remarks and the Israeli army withdraws from southern Lebanon, the Iranian delegation will not return to the negotiating table.